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A. T '.IHULL,.

- HOD BLBVATOB. Y No. 290,235.Y Patented De.c.18, -1-883.

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' A. T. HULL.

HOD BLBVATOR.

No. 290,235. Panama Deu; 18,'.1-883; l

.a v n m w n m m -UNrTED ySTAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT T. HULL, or NEW YORK, NSY., AssIeNoR To EDWARD D. FISHER,

or sAME rLAoE.

Hooi-ELEVATOR.

-SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,235, dated' December 18, 1883.

` Appui-.ation mea March 17,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT T. HULL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hed-Elevators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in hod-elevators, the object being to `producel an effective elevator which will occupy the minimum amount of space in the building in which 4it is used.

The invention also relates to anovel method of operating a hod-elevator, whereby the same may be placed in a chimney or small space without interfering with its successful use.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of an elevator embodying the elements of the invention. Fig. 2 is a detached front view of same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the blank for forming the cross-bar. Fig. 4 is au edge view of same when finished. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a single link having pockets. Fig. 6 is aview of the recessed wheels for moving the chain. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are views of the guides for preventing the sagging of the chain. Fig. 10 is a view of the wheels employing the guiding-flanges.

A B denote the two sides of the endless elevator chain or belt, which passes over the pulleys C D at the top and bottom of the building in the customary manner, and is actuated by power of any suitable kind, placed either at the lower or upper end of the chain or elsewhere, as the circumstances attending its use may render most desirable. The formation of the pulleys D constitute one part of my invention, and will be fully described hereinafter.

The sides A B of the chain are formedof double 'and single links pivoted together at their ends. At suitable intervals the links of the chain, either the double or single, as may be preferred, are provided with the earsE, forming pockets a, one opening upward and the other downward. The pockets formed by the ears are employed for sustaining the hod Vduring its ascent and descent.

The hod consists of the usual bowl, b, and iron yoke d, having a handle, f.

The hod illustrated in this application is an improvement on the hod described in a pending application heretofore filed by me, andv numbered 84,727, said improvement consisting in curving the sides of the yoke d slightly toward the open end of the hod, whereby when the carrier is placing the hod upon the chain it will be unnecessary for him to come in such close proximity thereto as will be required whenthe sides of the yoke are on the same vertical plane with the handle.

In placing the hod upon thechain, it is customary to leave it upon the shoulder of the carrier until its end is between the sides of the chain. 'Thus ity will appear obvious that f there is danger-unless the sides of the yoke are curved, as specied-of the clothing or iiesh of the carrier being injured by the pockets of the chain. The projections e, formed on the yoked, are provided with the annular groove m, and have knobs on their ends, the purpose of which will be understood from the description hereinafter presented. The sides A Bofthe chain are connected at proper intervals by cross-bars F, which are provided at about their center with notches h, if Y deemed necessary, to facilitate the operation of the apparatus, and are provided on their ends with the flanges i. The cross-bars F may be stamped out of sheet metal with the flanges z', which ilanges will then be bent at right angles to the longitudinal center of the bar, and may constitutelinksfor the chain. Thebars F,with their flanged ends i, may alsobe made of malleable iron, if desired.

Heretofore in the construction of hod-elevator chains of the character herein described,

the cross-bars have been separate from the chain, andhave been secured thereto by bolts,

IOO

about midway between the pulleys over which it travels, sags considerably, and jars, as a consequence, the hods secured upon its sides. Vhen a hod on the descent side of the chain is opposite to one on the ascent side, the sagging will sometimes cause the two to knock together, and there is danger of one or the other being thrown from the chain, unless the sustainingpulleys are large enough to allow a large space between the two sides of the chain.

One part of my invention consists in a novel arrangement of wheels or guides for preventing this sagging of the chain, and they are shown in Figs. 7, S, and 9. In Figs. 7 and 8 the device consists of two wheels, L L, preferably fianged, as shown, which snugly fit between the two sides of the chain A B. Beyond these wheels L Lare smaller pulleys M, which, when in use, are arranged to press against the outer edges of the sides of the chain and keep said sides against the large wheels L. It will be seen, therefore, that the sides A B of the chain have their movement between the fianges of the wheels L, and are retained therein by the smaller wheels M.

The modified form of guide for preventing the sagging of the chain (illustrated in Fig. 9) consists in the pairs of smaller pulleys or wheels N, which will be flanged or made plain, as may be preferred; but in the present instance one of the wheels is iianged, the other having a plain surface. The sides of the chain will pass between these smaller pairs of wheels in the same manner and with the same result as in the device illustrated in Fig. 7. These guides (illustrated in Figs. 7 S, and 9) may be arranged in a separate frame and secured in the building in proper position to receive the sides of the chain; or they may be attached to the joists of one of the middle iioors of the building, as may be preferred. Vhen the guides are to be attached to the joists, the flanged axle illustrated at I in Fig. 9 may be used with good results. It will not be neces sary in all cases to employ the guide-wheels on both the ascending and descending sides of the chain, since the weight of the full hods will materially lessen the sagging and swaying of the chain on its descending side.

In the operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described, the full hods are inserted between the sides of the chain and the ears c rested in the pockets a, in which position they will be elevated to the top of the building. The hods, after having been removed and emptied, are replaced on the descending side of the chain sidewise-that is, instead of being inserted between the sides, as during their elevation, they are now placed with their side against the side of the chain-and the proj eetion c inserted in the notches 7L, formed in the cross-bars F. NVhen in this position, the annular groove formed in the projections c on the side of the hods bearing against the chain, will rest in the said notches lz, and prevent the escape of the hod until it is removed at the lower part of the building. It will be observed that by means oi' this method of placing the hods upon the chain, small pulleywheels may be used at the top and bottom of the building, and that the two opposite sides of the chain may be brought close together, and the hods may be elevated and returned without danger of striking each other, and without occupying but a small space.

It has often been found impracticable to use hod-elevating apparatus in old buildings on account of the small extent of the hatchway, and in new buildings because it is desired always to leave but a small opening in the iioors as the building progresses; and in the construction of the apparatus herein described and in its method of operation I have aimed at the production of an elevator which may be used in a small compass-such as a chimney, for instance which use would leave the balance of the building unopened. The employment on the hod of projections having annular grooves x effectually prevents the lateral spread of the sides of the chain, and obviates the necessity oi' using numerous cross-bars.

4The wheels D constitute, as aforesaid, one part of my invention. rjhey are provided on their outer side with the guiding-fianges D', which direct the chain into the grooves E', (when said grooves are used,) formed in the periphery ofthe main part of the wheels. The grooves E conform in outline to the exterior cont-our of the links ofthe chain, as shown in Fig. 6, which illustrates one wheel with the chain removed. lVhen power is applied to the wheels D, their movement is communicated to the chain by the force of the shoulders a', exerted against the ends of the double links. If preferred, the guiding safety-flanges D may also be employed with entirely satisfactory results on wheels having teeth x on their periphery to engage the links of the chain. (See Fig. 10.) The flanges D effeetually prevent the chain from losing its position on the wheels, and act as guides, which constantly direct the links upon the teeth or into the grooves, aecording to which are employed. rlhe flanges D add to the safety of the apparatus, and do not interfere in any way with the movement and proper operation of the chain.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The method of elevating hods,which consists in causing the hod to be inserted between the sides of the chain and carried upward endwise, while on the descending side the hods are carried downward sidewise, as set forth.

2. In a bod-elevator, the sides A B of the chain or belt, having pockets, in combination with thehodprovidedwithprojectionsc,adapted to fit into said pockets, and having enlargements on their ends,whieh prevent the lateral spread of the sides A B, substantially as set forth.

3. The cross-bar blank for the endless chains IIO of hod-elevators, oonsistingof the bar F and ianges i, substantially of the form described, and illustrated in Fig. 3.

4. An endless chain for a hod-elevator,con sisting ofthe independent sides A B, connected at intervals by cross-bars, and composed of open and closed links, a portion of which are provided with ears E, forming pockets a a, the ears being formed directly on the link, substantially as set forth. y

5.v In combination with an endless chain for a bod-elevator, the .hod consistingof the bowl, the handle, and yoke d, the sides of the yoke inclining toward the open end of the hod, and provided with projections adapted to t in the pockets on the chain, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the endless chain for bod-elevators, the guide-Wheels, between which the sides of the chain are made to travel, as described.

7. In combination with the endless chain of a hodelevator, the iianged wheel and the Wheel having a plain surface, for preventing the sagging of the chain, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with the endless chain or belt of ahod-elevator, the Wheels D,l1aving recesses or grooves E and flanges D', substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with the endless chain or belt of a bod-elevator, the Wheels D, provided on their outer side with the safety guiding-flanges D', substantially as and for the purposes described. Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALBERT T. HULL Witnesses:

HERMAN GUsToW, CHAs. C. GILL. 

